KALW
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Thousands of veterans are returning home every month, re-entering civilian life — and facing challenges and obstacles all along the way.
Experts estimate that about 20% of new veterans are returning home with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Some symptoms of PTSD include erratic driving behaviors, substance abuse, and violence — all actions that can land vets in jail. And that’s the concern: that many new vets will be swept up into the criminal justice system.
In San Bruno, the San Francisco County Jail has partnered with the non-profit Swords to Plowshares to create a wing dedicated solely to veterans. It may be the first in the country. It’s called the COVER project, and the mostly-volunteer staff connects vets to resources, turning their incarceration into rehabilitation.
Full Story: Jailed veterans look for COVER behind bars